Borthwick nominated for Player of the Season

Premiership Rugby today confirmed the shortlist for the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season Award and announced the event at the London Hilton, Park Lane, on 9 May is sold out.

Players from five different clubs make up the six-man shortlist, two from the England squad that finished second in the recent RBS 6 Nations.

"We are delighted to see the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards continue to grow, and to see it sold out again with weeks to go is a testament to the appeal of the event," said Phil Winstanley, the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby.

"We have enjoyed another breathtaking season on the pitch with so many matches going down to the wire. The length of the deliberations for the awards reflects the current standard of Aviva Premiership Rugby - we had so many compelling candidates."

Julian Salvi is the only player who was also included in the shortlist for the 2011-12 award, won by Harlequins and England captain Chris Robshaw.

· Aviva Premiership Player of the Season· Aviva Community Player of the Season· Land Rover Discovery of the Season· QBE Director of Rugby of the Season· Guinness Try of the Season· Gilbert Golden Boot· J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby Sevens Player of the Season· Top Try Scorer of the Season· Dream Team· Gatorade Game Changer of the Season

The other shortlists will be announced over the next three days.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 9 May at the sold out Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards at The Hilton, Park Lane. The event will be covered live on Twitter via the @premrugby account.